Apparatus for inverting lamp tubes



May 20, 1952 J. H. BROOKS APPARATUS FOR INVERTING LAMP TUBES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1949 INVENTOR. Joseph H. Brooks W M ATTORNEY May 20, 1952 J. H. BROOKS 2,597,283

APPARATUS FOR INVERTING LAMP TUBES Filed June 50, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FgZ 3 IN VEN TOR.

J05 ep/; /1. [Brae/r5 ATTORNEY y 20, 1952 J. H. BROOKS 2,597,283

APPARATUS F OR INVERTING LAMP TUBES Filed June 30, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 26 O I 4 25 4 Egg? 10 3 3 29 Q, 31 32 o 23 I 28 i W k 3 e "4| 5 5R\ IOI/ INVENTOR. Jose ,oh /7. Brooks m [am-W ATTORNEY Patented May 20, 1952 PARATUS:roitmvisnrma r;Turns;

zJosephifi. Brooks;-.West Peabody, Mass, assignor .to Sylvania Electric Products Inc.,:Salem,Mass.,

a corporation of ltlassachusettsv Applicationulunefil, 1949, Serial n magi i;

(en ist- 2 This invention relates to improvements in automatic. machines for. sealing filament mounts upon the ends of tubular lamp bulbs. andrelates particularly to automatic means for inverting the lamp bulbs after one end thereof has been sealed.

The mechanism includesa main carrier arm whichis pivoted to swing substantially radially toward andirom the circular turret or. thesealing-Vmachine which contains aplurality ofsealing heads. A lamp gripping and rotating head is-Tmounted on-theupper end of the main arm. Means are. provided on thisheadto grip a lamp, remove it:.fromithe turret, invert it andreplace it on. thersame sealing head. from which it was removed, the inverting operation taking. place while. the-main arm has. been moved away from.

the turret and while the turret is indexing.

A driving means for themechanism of the invention: is connected to a driven member on the sealing machine-and serves to-accurately time the operations thereof to those of the'inverter' mechanism. A completedescription will beset forth hereinafter.

wIt;-is; an object ofthe invention to provigleamechanism of; the type indicated which will funcho os t v ly an w t out damage to the: lamp ulbs-Whith r i v rte t ere A mb re of h i v n io s; o p ovide m f automat c l ve tma am built erat timdgfi ql tnqe wit t e index- 11 of a a em ii sea in meqliineess ats i A gfurtherobject of theinvention isto providea for inverting tubular lamps. after one end eo as b e s l d an i w i e lam'nb lb ar ever e an ransposedjpy' the same motion to a position opposite the head fromwhith i a taken an afterv n exin .o

thehead-has taken place.

Other objects and features of the ,invention will morefully appearfrom the following des ript o an l b P rt ularly po ntedout theolaims.

To provide a better understandi of the inventiona particular embodiment thereof Will be bwgdtscribs an i lustratedi thed awm s which:

Fig. 1 is a frontelevation of themechanisrn constituting the invention.

Fig. 2 a side elevation of the-mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig; 3 is a cross section on line 3-3, :Eig; 1,' with the members shownin the -actuatedlposition.

Fig. 4 is a sectional viewondine 4-4, Fig- '3, with themembers-shown in the actuate d position:

Fig. 5 is-a detailview-showing the manner-in which the ends -of the operatingcabl e's of; the mechanism are anchoredto the-'operating drum.

The invention is described as -applied to a machine for sealing the 'stem assembly end-members of a tubular discharge lamp tothe-bulb'portion thereot." r

Such machines are 0 equippedwith a -.rotating turret or head 'membe'r I upon which are peripherally arranged a plurality of sealingein heads 2 of conventional design which employ gas heat to-tusethe lampelements to produce a gas tight envelope;

' Suitable means--are-providedw-ithintheacasing 3 for indexing. the-turret to present successive heads 2 i to -the I various vvor l stations between machine cycles."

The arm G-has-a cam-follower- M projecting therefrom whichengages-the cam ll; Qrie br moresprings l5- are secured. to the arm' 6 and to-the frame 13 actingto hold the follower 1'4 upon the cam. The cam and-follower are soarranged that-the positive movement of the-cam upon the follower moves the arm outward-while the spring movesit inward. ln this' manner jamming of the arm against -the machineis-prevented in casea lamp'or Otherobjeet should-accidentally comebetween the arm-and a part 'of the machine. z

'To raise and lower thelampsat the required time the upperportion 9 or: the arm 6' is moved by a lever i6" fulcrumed upon aruiem gs nart 'I'I mounted'on the framel3. The: lever 16 is fdilsposed substantially horizontal fprovided jat the up secti n. 9 of theiarm 6-.

B r a o p y h onstructim the semis? tion I movement f th levsrlfiia ers the portion 9 ofthearrn fi bllt alml9?!' e m v me to th ar ah ntits pi; otfi.

. and low The lever H5 has mounted thereona followerrollthe,

its top position throughout most of its cycle and a depressed portion acting to lower the lamp held in the gripping and invertin member III for a short period when the inverted lamp is redelivered and another lamp is picked up.

Referring now to the details of the member I it has a shaft 22 rotatably mounted in a casing 23 which in turn is rigidly secured to the upper end of the arm 6. The shaft 22 is disposed radially to the turret I and has secured to its inner end a lampholder 24. The member 24 has a pair of lamp receiving grooves 25 which are parallel and spaced symmetrically from the shaft axis and separated by a distance equal to the pitch distance between the heads 2 upon the turret. A pair of spring pressed and slidable fingers 26 act with the grooves 25 to hold or release a lamp in a manner to be described.

The two fingers 26 are pressed against the lamps by springs 21 and are pivoted on a common pivot pin which is mounted in a transverse slide 28 which in turn is connected to an actuating pin 29 slidable in the body of the holder.

The member 24 has a circular indexing member 30 mounted on its shaft 22 which has a pair of notches 3| in the periphery thereof and spaced 180 apart. The member 30 may be a part of the hub of the member 24 as shown. A spring actuated detent arm 32 successively locks the member 24 at half revolution positions. Means are provided to rotate the member 24 when it is in its outer position away from the turret I. A desirable means is shown wherein two sections of flexible steel cable 33 are wound upon and secured at their ends upon a drum 34 shown in Fig. 5. One section of the cable is connected to a take-up spring 35 while the other section is connected to an actuating rocker arm 36 pivoted near its midpoint and connected at its other end to a link 31 which in turn is connected to a lever 38 fulcrumed on the shaft II. The lever has a follower roll 39 thereon which engages a cam 40 on the camshaft I2. The cam 40 is timed to pull down upon the cable through the various connections to rotate the member 24 one half turn while the arm 6 is in its outer position thus inverting a lamp held in the member 24.

It Wlll be noted that in inverting the lamp it also becornes transposed the pitch distance between heads 2 so that the inverted lamp is in position to be replaced in the head from which it was removed, which head has in the meantime been indexed to its next succeeding position. Accurate 180 positions of the member 24 is maintained by the detent 32.

Coaction between the cam 40 and the vertical movement of the portion 9 of the arm is arranged not only to drive the drum 34 but to return the drum to its initial position after the lamp has been inverted. To do this a suitable ratchet and pawl mechanism 4| causes the drum 34 to drive the shaft 22 in one direction and to freely permit its return in the other direction.

If desired counterweighing means may be provided in connection with the vertical movement of the upper portion 9 of the arm 6.

The sealing machine includes separate sealing stations for each end of the lamp bulb 4. It is after the first sealing operation and just before the final sealing that the inverting mechanism constituting the present invention functions.

In practice it is found desirable to first seal in the end containing the lamp exhaust tube although the principles of the invention ap ly independently of which end is first sealed. After the first sealing operation the unfinished lamp is carried to a station at which an automatically operating arm grasps the lamp, raises it, removes it from the machine, inverts it, replaces and lowers it into sealing position.

This Operating arm 6 is preferably of considerable length reaching down to a point near the machine supporting surface where it is pivoted at 'I to swing toward and from the machine in a plane substantially radial to the axis of the turret I. The arm 6 is constructed to be inherently rigid, its upper portion being offset toward its operating position at the periphery of the turret. Th's ofiset is introduced to make room at the base of the machine for operating elements essential to the execution of other operations upon the lamp. However, the particular shape of the arm forms no part of the invention and is simply an expedient to overcome practical space design requirements.

The arm 6 is made in two parts, a. main carrier or lower portion 8 pivoted at I and a second carrier or upper portion 9 mounted to slide vertically upon the rods 9X secured upon the portion 8. The upper end of the upper portion 9 of the arm 6 has rotatably mounted therein a lamp gripping and inverting member ID which is provided with means for swinging the lamps through to prepare them for the second sealing operation.

To execute its required function the member I0 must be bodily manipulated which is done by movements of the arm 5. The member I0 is moved into position against the lamps in the machine and out again by swinging the arm 6 about its pivot 1. means of a cam II mounted upon a camshaft I2 rotatably mounted in a frame I3 connected to the base of the machine.

Means are provided for actuating the slide 28 for shifting the fingers 25. Any suitable means may be employed for this purpose. As shown herein, a lever 45, fulcrumed on shaft IIlI supported by plates I02 attached to the casing 23, engages the end of the pin 29 (Fig. 4). One arm of a bellcrank lever I03 is mounted on shaft I 0 I, the other arm of the bellcrank lever I03 having an end of link 46 connected thereto. The other end of link 46 is connected to an arm of bellcrank lever I04 which is mounted at I06 on the upper portion 9 of the arm 5. A link I05 connects the other arm of bellcrank lever I04 to lever 41 fulcrumed on the shaft I7.

The lever 41 has a cam face 43X thereon which is engaged by a roll 48 upon the end of an arm 49 fixed upon the camshaft I 2. The arm 49 is positioned on the shaft I2 to cause actuation of the fingers 26 when the portion 9 of the arm 6 is at its low position as will appear more fully hereinafter.

The cam shaft I2 is driven to make one revolution during each indexing cycle of the turret I. This may be done in any suitable manner. As shown the shaft I2 is driven from a shaft 50 which is one of the main drive shafts of the machine in general. Any suitable driving connection may be used such as the bevel gears 5I and a universal connection 5 IX.

The mechanism embodying the invention is so placed with respect to the sealing machine that the arm 6 will cause the member 24 to deliver an inverted lamp at the final sealing-in station where the unfinished lamp will be presented in accurate alignment to a stem assembly 53 upon the sealing head 2 after which heat is applied to This movement is obtained by.

the: arm 6. to its, outer or retracted position at. which time the member 24 is carrying..a.,lamp in. its; left. hand roove when looking toward. the;

turret; While: the arm isoutthenturret indexes in-a counterclockwise direction andthe. cam 4!] acts through .its interconnecting: elements to ro'-, tatethe drum 34 which inverts. the. lamp and movesjt overto. a right hand positioninthemem'ez,

ber 24'.

Thecam, I I thenmoves the arm-'6 carrying the; inverted lamp inward to the extended position. wherethelamp is above and. in; registerwitha. lamp sealing machine head This; movement causesthelampto enter the holding devices-.on. the turret On-the. sealing head from' whichit. was,removed. Thecamfil now acts to lower the. lamp to its sealing position and when the mem: ber 24 is at its lowest position the roll 48 and arm.

49 engage the follower 48X on the lever 31 which acts through its system of links and levers 46 to push the pin 29 inward thereby releasing the delivered lamp and locking the adjacent uninverted lamp in the left hand groove of the member 24.

Continued movement of the cam 2| raises the uninverted lamp to clear its exhaust stem and lead wires by sliding it upward in its holders on the turret l. The cam ll now acts to swing the arm 6 back away from the turret carrying the uninverted lamp with it. The cam 40 then again acts to invert the lamp and thus complete the cycle.

What I claim is:

What we claim is:

1. In combination with a sealing machine for tubular lamps having a plurality of tube-carrying heads disposed about the periphery thereof, apparatus for successively inverting the position of the tubes thereon comprising: a main carrier located adjacent to the periphery of the sealing machine and moveable toward and from the tubecarrying heads disposed about the periphery thereof; a second carrier moveable vertically on said main carrier; a tube manipulator rotatably mounted on said second carrier and having tube gripping means thereon; means to move said main carrier inwardly toward the tube-carrying heads of the sealing machine to present said tube manipulator to said tubes and move it away therefrom; means to move said second carrier in a vertical plane; and means to rotate said manipulator to invert said tubes one at a time.

2. In combination with a sealing machine for tubular lamps having a plurality of tube-carrying heads disposed about the periphery thereof, apparatus for inverting the tubes carried by said heads comprising: a main carrier; means to move said carrier toward and from said tube-carrying heads; a second carrier moveable vertically on said main carrier; means for moving said second carrier in a vertical plane; a tube manipulator rotatably mounted on said second carrier; means on said tube manipulator for gripping and removing one tube and delivering a second tube during one in-and-out movement of said main carrier; and means for rotating said tube manipulator When said main carrier has been moved away from the tube-carrying heads to invert the tube held thereby.

3. In combination with an indexing sealing machine for tubular lamps having a plurality of tube-carrying heads disposed about the periphery thereof, if apparatus fors':invertingathestubesscara ried by said heads comprising: a .tube-.. manipu1a;-?;. ton-having two tube-receiving grooves therein; spaced from. one. another the indexingrpitch distance of thesealing machine, located adjacent;-

to the periphery of the: sealing machine; tube: ripping fingers onlsaidtube manipulator coaote ing a with the. tube-receiving rooves therein hold andrelease a tube; means for eifecti-ngoscile latory movement of said' tube manipulatorntoa Ward and from the-tube-carryingheads of the sealing machine; means: for effecting reciprocata; ing: movement. in a vertical: planeof sai'd tub'e: manipulator when it is located in the-extended; position; means for rotating said-tube manipulaa tor "when it'is located in the retracted position to.

invert the tube-held thereby; and means-ifor actuating said tube-gripping fingers to release-am inverted tube to one of the tube-carrying heads and simultaneously grasp a tube from an adja'cent tube-carrying head-when the tubemanipulator isin the extended position.

4. In combination with an indexing sealingma-Tv chine: for tubular lamps having' a plurality of tube-carrying headsdisposed about the periphery. thereof, apparatus for inverting the tubes oar-2'. ried by said headszcomprisingz a carrier; means for eifecting oscillatory movement of said carrier toward and away from the tube-carrying heads on the sealing machine; a tube manipulator, having a vertical axis, mounted on said carrier and having at least one tube-receiving groove therein spaced one-half of the sealin machine indexing pitch distance from the vertical axis of said tube manipulator; means on said tube manipulator for gripping a tube in the groove therein and releasing it therefrom when the carrier is in the extended position; means for effecting reciprocating movement of said tube manipulator in a vertical plane when the carrier is in the extended position; and means for rotating said tube manipulator 180 when the carrier is in the retracted position.

5. In combination with an indexing sealing machine for tubular lamps having a plurality of tube-carrying heads disposed about the periphery thereof, apparatus for inverting the tubes carried by said heads comprising: a main carrier; means for effecting oscillatory movement of said carrier toward and from said tube-carrying heads; a second carrier mounted on said main carrier; means for effecting reciprocating movement of said second carrier in a vertical plane when said main carrier is in the extended position; a tube manipulator rotatably mounted on said second carrier; means on said tube manipulator for gripping and releasing a tube; and means for rotating said tube manipulator to invert and transpose a tube therein the pitch distance of indexing movement of the sealing machine when the main carrier is in the retracted position.

6. In combination with an indexing sealing machine for tubular lamps having a plurality of tube-carrying heads disposed about the periphery thereof, apparatus for inverting the tubes carried by said heads comprising: a main carrier; means for effecting oscillatory movement of said carrier toward and from said tube-carrying heads; a second carrier mounted on said main carrier; means for eifecting reciprocating movement of said second carrier in a vertical plane when said main carrier is in the extended position; a tube manipulator rotatably mounted on said second carrier and having a pair of parallel tube-receiving grooves therein spaced apart the pitch distance of the sealing machine index, the vertical axis of said manipulator being half way between said grooves; means on said manipulator coacting with the tube-receiving grooves therein for gripping a tube in one of said grooves and releasing a tube from the other of said grooves when the main carrier is in the extended position; and means for rotating said tube manipulator when the main carrier is in the retracted position to invert a tube held in said manipulator.

- 7. In combination with a sealing machine for tubular lamps having a plurality of tube-carrying heads disposed about the periphery thereof, apparatus for inverting a, tube on one of the tubecarrying heads comprising: a tube manipulator located adjacent to the periphery of the sealing machine; tube gripping means on said manipulator; means for eifecting oscillatory movement of said tube manipulator toward and away from the tube-carrying heads on the sealing machine; means for effecting reciprocating movement in a vertical plane of said tube manipulator when it is in the extended position; means for rotating said tube manipulator when it is in the retracted position; and means for actuating said tube gripping means on said tube manipulator when the manipulator is in the extended position.

8. In combination with an indexing sealing machine for tubular lamps having a plurality of tube-carrying heads disposed about the periphery thereof, apparatus for inverting a tube on one of the tube carrying heads comprising: a tube manipulator located adjacent to the periphery of the sealing machine; a pair of tube gripping members on said manipulator and spaced from one another the indexing pitch distance of the sealing machine; mean for effecting oscillatory movement of said tube manipulator toward and away from the tube-carrying heads on the sealing machine; means for efiecting reciprocating movement in a vertical plane of said tube manipulator when it is in the extended position; means for rotating said tube manipulator when it is in the retracted position; and means for actuating the pair of tube gripping members on said manipulator when the manipulator is in the extended position to simultaneously grasp a tube in one of the tube gripping members and release a tube from the other tube gripping member.

JOSEPH H. BROOKS.

No references cited. 

